Editing Land of Departure

{{Game|BBS|FMB|KH3|FA}}

The '''Land of Departure''' is a [[world]] in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''. It is the original "hub" world of ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''.

The Land of Departure is one of few special worlds in the [[Universe of Kingdom Hearts|''Kingdom Hearts'' universe]] that is located between the [[Realm of Light]] and the [[Realm of Darkness]].<ref name="Ultimania">'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Ultimania|Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania]]''''' "[Land of Departure] It is a special place between the realms of darkness and light, and has been protected for generations so that it is not used for evil. A device was set in place just in case of such an event, and after Master Eraqus was killed and Aqua closed the Keyhole of the world, it put this device in action. It turned it into a castle which would draw anyone who goes there into oblivion."</ref> As such, Master Eraqus described the world as a neutral place where [[light]] and [[darkness]] exist in balance.

The Land of Departure has physical qualities of several major worlds from the ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|series}}'' series. The Land of Departure is shown in artwork to be set high in grassy mountains, surrounded by flowing water. The building itself decreases in width as it reaches the ground, tall spires protruding from the roof. Two lengths of golden chain connect the castle to twin peaks. Similarly to [[Twilight Town]], there is one major building in this world's render; the main building also bears a resemblance to Twilight Town's clock tower. Like [[Radiant Garden]], this world also has a circular area in the middle of it, with a large building overhead.

The game's tutorial, while still controlling Ventus, takes place in the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Mountain Path}}'''|山道|Sandou}}. Going up into the hill leads to the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Summit}}'''|山頂|Sanchou}}. The area before the Mountain Trail is the {{nihongo|'''{{a|Forecourt}}'''|前庭|Zentei}}, where the world's Moogle Shop can be found if the player chooses to return to the Land of Departure for a limited time in the story. Beyond is Terra's, Ventus's, Aqua's and Master Eraqus's home.

The Land of Departure is also one of a select few worlds in the series that features areas that eventually cannot be accessed during later portions of the game. After Master Eraqus is killed and Master Xehanort plunges the world into darkness, the world cannot be fully revisited. The Forecourt is no longer accessible because the road leading to it has collapsed, and it is seen one last time towards the beginning of the Final Episode.

!Area Map

Generations of Keyblade Masters have kept the land safe.

 

Years before the events of ''Birth by Sleep'', after being made Keyblade Master, [[Eraqus]] became the steward of the Land of Departure while his fellow apprentice, [[Xehanort]], became a Seeker to learn more of the worlds. By the time the two crossed paths again, they entered into a discussion where Xehanort revealed his intent to create a second Keyblade War that resulted with the two having a major falling out with Xehanort scarring Eraqus. Years after that event, after creating [[Vanitas]] from the youth who somehow survived the process, Xehanort decided to take advantage by leaving the amnesic [[Ventus]] in Eraqus's care to be trained by him alongside [[Terra]] and [[Aqua]].

Shortly before meeting at the Keyblade Graveyard, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua each separately return to their ruined home and encounter a time-traveling Young Xehanort, who attacks each of them in turn.<!--who came to test them to see their potentials as vessels for his older self.{{fact}} The fights eventually proved that Xehanort intended to test Terra's strength as his future vessel and destroy Ventus and Aqua for getting into his way.{{fact}}--> He vanishes after his defeat, continuing onward to the future to carry out his tasks.

After Ventus loses his heart and falls into a comatose state in the aftermath of the events at the [[Keyblade Graveyard]], Aqua returns to the destroyed castle with Ventus on her back. She places Ventus in the middle throne and, using Eraqus's Keyblade, seals the Keyhole and reconfigures the Land of Departure into [[Castle Oblivion]] to both protect the land from any who would take advantage of it and keep Ventus safe in the [[Chamber of Waking]].<ref name="Ultimania"/>

Immediately after saving Aqua, [[Sora]], [[Donald]], and [[Goofy]] travel with her to Castle Oblivion, where she utilizes the power of the Master's Defender to restore the Land of Departure to its former glory. Aqua leads the group to Ventus, where she apologizes to him for making him wait so long and tries to wake him from his slumber, only to be disappointed to learn that his heart never returned in her absence. Just then, Vanitas makes his presence known, having followed the group in order to find Ventus. Aqua attacks Vanitas when he approaches Ventus, and despite Sora, Donald, and Goofy wanting to help her, Aqua refuses and casts barrier to isolate herself and Vanitas in order to redeem herself.

When Aqua gains the upper hand, Vanitas instead targets Ventus, attempting to shatter the barrier. Seeing the danger, Aqua throws herself between Ventus and Vanitas, taking the brunt of Vanitas's attack. With Aqua weakened, Vanitas moves in to claim her heart, but this action stirs Ventus's heart within Sora. With Sora's help, Ventus's heart returns to his body, allowing Ventus to wake, break through the barrier and clash with Vanitas. Vanitas retreats as Sora, Donald, and Goofy join Ventus and Aqua, though he anticipates another encounter with Ventus. Afterwards, Ventus notices Sora that Vanitas and Sora look alike, leading Ventus to realize that Sora was his second chance.

File:Terra KHIII.png|[[Terra]]<br>{{KHBbS}}{{KHIII}}

File:Ventus KHIII.png|[[Ventus]]<br>{{KHBbS}}{{KHIII}}

File:Aqua KHIII.png|[[Aqua]]<br>{{KHBbS}}{{KHIII}}

File:Master Eraqus KHIII.png|[[Eraqus]]<br>{{KHBbS}}

*Although he does not make an appearance, Eraqus and Xehanort's master is mentioned on several occasions. It is known that he was a [[Keyblade Master]] who taught the two when they were only apprentices.

File:Terra (Battle) KHBBS.png|'''[[Game:Terra|Terra]]'''

File:Ven (Battle) KHBBS.png|'''[[Game:Ventus|Ventus]]'''

File:Aqua (Battle) KHBBS.png|'''[[Game:Aqua|Aqua]]'''

File:Master Eraqus KHIII.png|'''[[Game:Eraqus|Master Eraqus]]'''

File:Orb of Light (Corrupted) KHBBS.png|[[Orb of Light]]

File:Unknown KHBBS.png|'''[[Game:Young Xehanort|Unknown]]'''

File:Vanitas (Masked) KHIII.png|'''[[Game:Vanitas|Vanitas]]'''

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