Land of Departure
Japanese	旅立ちの地
Romaji	Tabidachi no Chi
Games	Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Kingdom Hearts III Kingdom Hearts Dark Road Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
Allies	Terra, Aqua, Ventus
KHBBS tracks Field theme - The Promised Beginning Battle theme - Future Masters
Other worlds Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Dive to the Heart | Destiny Islands | Disney Castle Traverse Town | Wonderland | Olympus Coliseum Deep Jungle | Agrabah | Monstro Atlantica | Halloween Town | Neverland 100 Acre Wood | Hollow Bastion End of the World | Realm of Darkness Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Castle Oblivion | Twilight Town Introduced in Kingdom Hearts II Mysterious Tower | Radiant Garden The Land of Dragons | Beast's Castle | Timeless River Port Royal | Pride Lands | Space Paranoids The World That Never Was | End of Sea | Keyblade Graveyard Introduced in Kingdom Hearts coded Datascape Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Land of Departure | Mirage Arena Dwarf Woodlands | Enchanted Dominion | Castle of Dreams Disney Town | Deep Space Introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance La Cité des Cloches | The Grid | Symphony of Sorcery Country of the Musketeers | Prankster's Paradise Introduced in Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] Daybreak Town Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross] Game Central Station | Niceland | Cy-Bug Sector | Candy Kingdom Introduced in Kingdom Hearts III The Final World | Secret Forest | Olympus Toy Box | Kingdom of Corona | Monstropolis Arendelle | The Caribbean | San Fransokyo Scala ad Caelum | Quadratum

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, and the original form of Castle Oblivion.

The Land of Departure is located in the Realm Between, and serves as neutral ground where light and darkness are in balance. A device has been set in place in case the forces of darkness ever encroached, allowing the wielder of the Master's Defender to lock the world's Keyhole, reshaping it to repel intruders. Unlocking the world's Keyhole will restore the Land of Departure to its original form.^[1]

Development

In the original Japanese release of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Land of Departure disappears from the world map after its destruction in each character's story, making it inaccessible in that character's save file from then on. Due to this oversight, it becomes impossible for the player to complete the Report and Trinity Archives if they had not opened the Treasure Chests in that world beforehand. This was rectified in all subsequent versions, where a ruined version of the world could still be accessed after this event, which also serves as the location for the Unknown boss battle.

Settings and Areas

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Artwork of Land of Departure.

The Land of Departure's castle is set high up in grassy mountains, and is surrounded by flowing water down below. The building itself decreases in width as it reaches the ground, and has tall spires protruding from the roof. Four golden chains also connect the castle to two pairs of twin peaks, one pair in front of the castle, the other behind it. Down the castle's stairs is a circular area known as the Forecourt (前庭, Zentei), where the world's Moogle Shop can be found for a limited time throughout the story.

Leaving the Forecourt leads to the Mountain Path (山道, Sandou), a tranquil area that's got several bonsai trees as well as a few tiny waterfalls, and puddles covered in lily pads. There's also some benches there and a few contraption with golden pendants that can be hit. Going up into the hill leads to the Summit (山頂, Sanchou), a place Terra, Aqua, and Ventus visit to relax or exercise.

The Great Hall (大広間) is briefly playable during Terra and Aqua's Mark of Mastery exam. The area is quite spacious and covered in golden ornaments, with large stained glass windows lighting up the place, and three thrones towards the top. In cutscenes, Ventus's Room (ヴェントゥスの部屋) is seen which most notably houses a telescope, as well as a lot of books.

The Land of Departure is also one of few worlds in the series where certain areas become inaccessible later in the game. After Master Eraqus is killed and Master Xehanort plunges the world into darkness, the world cannot be fully revisited, as the Forecourt is no longer accessible due to a collapsed road leading to it.

Kingdom Hearts III

As Castle Oblivion changes back to the Land of Departure, the world is seen returning back to its former glory. The Castle Interior is temporarily playable in Kingdom Hearts III as the party rescues Ventus. The area consists of the Great Hall area from Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep as well as the smaller hallway below leading to the entrance. The area can also be accessed through Data Greeting.

During the ending, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus are shown making a grave for Eraqus at the Summit, with his Master's Defender planted on it.

Story

Before Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Following his Mark of Mastery exam and becoming a Keyblade Master, Eraqus became his Master's Successor and 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 third 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.

Terra, Aqua, and Ventus take a break from their training.

During their time training, Ven feels that he is inadequate as a Keyblade wielder, due to how damaged his practice sword has become. Aqua assures him the nicks are proof that he's learning, while Terra performs a mock Bequeathing and gifts his Wooden Keyblade to Ven.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

On the day before Terra and Aqua undergo the Mark of Mastery, they momentarily spar with Ventus before Aqua gives her fellow apprentices Wayfinders so the three of them would never be truly apart. The next day, arriving to see the exam proceedings, Xehanort rigs the test with orbs of light attacking the three Keyblade users. Despite the interference, Eraqus allowed the test to resume and names Aqua master while Terra is dismayed that he remains an apprentice. As Eraqus takes Aqua to inform her on the duties she is to take, Xehanort and Vanitas respectively manipulate Terra and Ventus into leaving the Land of Departure. As Ventus chases after Terra, Aqua is sent by Eraqus to retrieve the former.

The Land of Departure is shrouded in darkness.

Later, after an encounter with Xehanort presents a startling revelation, Ventus returns to the Land of Departure to confront Eraqus of his past. However, seeing that Xehanort is still acting on the scheme he unveiled to him ages ago, Eraqus resolves to kill Ventus for the good of the worlds. However, Xehanort arranged Terra to arrive to stop his master and makes his move to kill his former friend. From there, Xehanort then blasts an orb of darkness into the sky that causing the Land of Departure to become shrouded in darkness while sucking in most of the castle.

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. He vanishes after his defeat, continuing onward to the future to carry out his tasks.

The Land of Departure's Keyhole.

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.^[1]

Kingdom Hearts III

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 restores 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 that Vanitas and Sora look alike, leading Ventus to realize that Sora was his second chance.

Following the clash with the thirteen seekers of darkness, Aqua, Ventus, and Terra return to the Land of Departure and organize a grave dedicated to Eraqus, using the Master's Defender and their three Wayfinders. As they leave, Ventus notices his Chirithy watching him and welcomes Chirithy back to his side with open arms.

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

Riku pays a visit to the Land of Departure, where Terra congratulates him for obtaining the power to protect those he loves. Riku then watches as Terra, Ventus, and Aqua leave for the Realm of Darkness to find Sora.

Characters

• 

  Terra
  ^{[KH DR][KH BbS][KH III][KH III RM]}
• 

  Ventus
  ^{[KH DR][KH BbS][KH III][KH III RM]}
• 

  Aqua
  ^{[KH DR][KH BbS][KH III][KH III RM]}
• 

  Eraqus
  ^{[KH DR][KH BbS]}
• 

  Master Xehanort
  ^{[KH DR][KH BbS]}
• 

  Vanitas
  ^{[KH DR][KH BbS][KH III]}
• 

  Unknown
  ^{[KH BbS]}
• 

  Chirithy
  ^{[KH III]}
• 

  Riku
  ^{[KH III RM]}

• Master Odin, Eraqus and Xehanort's mentor, is mentioned on several occasions.

Enemies

Other

Trivia

• In Ventus's room, two of the books on his bookshelves are titled Birth by sleep and Ultimania.

Notes and references

• Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep worlds
• Kingdom Hearts III worlds
• Kingdom Hearts Dark Road worlds
• Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory worlds
• Land of Departure
• Realm Between

• Featured articles