> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://amanda-reznor-britto.gitbook.io/whitepaper.downbelow.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://amanda-reznor-britto.gitbook.io/whitepaper.downbelow.io/gameplay/2.1-entering-an-expedition.md).
# 2.1 Entering an expedition
The main objective in Down Below is to form an expedition to explore the Abyss, whose endeavor promises adventure, recognition and valuable rewards.
However, you'll need a special permit to proceed, and that is provided by the SIA.
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**SIA:** that's the short form for the Sindicate for Investigation of the Abyss. This is the order that controls and regulates all expedition activities carried out in the abyss.
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## Getting started
If you're one of those brave trail-blazers travelling to New Lenorien, be sure to know the place and to hire the right team for your expedition.
Many will introduce to you as being the best guides of the Abyss, but don't fall for that – few were the ones who really explored deeper levels, which is why these qualified professionals are often called Adventurers – and they don't work for free.
Therefore, you'll need to go to the official exchange office () and transfer your $ABYSS into the game. Check the document issued by SIA with all the steps to obtain your exploration permission.
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**Sindicate for Investigation of the Abyss - Regulatory Act**
1. Hire four Adventurers to start your expedition. Choose them wisely, as only the most qualified will be able to return on successful quests (see Table 1 for SIA-accredited Adventurer classes). You'll need to equip your Adventurers, being able to associate each character with a Weapon and up to four Skills.
2. Next, decide for how many days your team will be exploring the Abyss. This period will be contracted by SIA for paying the **Exploration License** within this period, which can be of 1 or 7 days.
3. The last step before sending your expedition is to secure provisions (**Rations**) to feed your team or teams during this exploration period.
4. If you are not satisfied with your current team, you can cancel the contract (**License Break**) and terminate the license even before the contracted days expire – note that there are no taxes for this action, but there will also be no refunds of amounts previously paid for the licensing.
5. It is also important to explain that there is a gradual wear of Adventurers and their equipment. After 60 forays into the Abyss, Weapons and Skills are fully consumed and will need to be recycled, and the explorers begin to mentally collapse; so when a hired Adventurer reaches its limit, you'll need to replace him on your Abyss exploration team.
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There are a few options to replace one or more characters in which you're not interested anymore. The first step is to acquire a **Queen Stone** to remove the ability that was associated with the character. Next, **if the ****Adventurer**** is not yet Corrupted** (meaning worn out, when sanity is completely eroded by the limiting number of 60 forays into the Abyss), you will either have the option of recommending him to another explorer via the marketplace or, if you prefer, firing him (**Dismissal**) along with SIA.
If the negotiation is successful on the marketplace, you will receive the agreed amount, excluding transaction fees. **In the case of Dismissal**, which can be carried out at any time, you will receive an amount corresponding to 20% to cover your costs, and it's also possible to transfer the equipment (weapon or skill) to the union at the same rate (**Recycling**).
In case you have one or more corrupted characters on your teams, they will no longer be able to carry out expeditions into the Abyss (PVE). **It will be necessary to recycle your teams**, either by allocating the corrupted *Adventurers* in an exclusive team for battles in the Arena (PVP) or by selling them through the marketplace.
**If your choice is to formalize the Retirement** of an *Adventurer* who is already *Corrupted* (i.e., who has already made 60 forays into the Abyss) with SIA, you'll receive a fee in $ABYSS to compensate for your misfortune.
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**The Retirement bonus will have a higher value than the Dismissal**, since your character will have already acquired level and experience, and it will allow you to hire another *Adventurer* to complete your team.
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As mentioned, you can also transfer, at 20% of the cost, the equipment (weapon and skill) that were associated with that Adventurer to the syndicate or that you wish to discard, and you must always use the **Queen Stone** to remove the character's ability before passing it on. Frame 1 summarizes the types of license and actions you can take during the formation and dismemberment of an expedition party.
**Frame 1 - Mechanics of Team Building and Exploration of the Abyss**
## Basics to build a team
Therefore, when starting **Down Below** you'll need to provide the basic assets to build a team. This is done by purchasing items in the marketplace. When opening (minting) a purchased item, it will come with a random class. Each item is purchased separately and can be of the following type:
* Skills (abilities);
* Weapons (equipment);
* Adventurers (character).
Such items are generated with random classes and skill levels when *minting*; it's possible, however, to acquire items from a specific class, according to classes and values presented in Table 1.
**Table 1 –** **Classes and Items Cost**
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To start the game, you must form a party with four Adventurers, each one equipped with a Weapon and at least one Skill. Therefore, the initial investment to form a party in the game will be of 400 $ABYSS.
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Optionally, you can purchase some **class-specific items**. This possibility gives the player freedom of multiple strategic choices, with the option of inserting a specific class item to complete his team – which is why a specific class item acquisition has a different value.
Figure 1 illustrates **Down Below** Adventurers by class.
**Figure 1 – Abyss Adventurers according to classes**
When minting an Adventurer, it will come with different visual elements, according to its rarity level. You'll need to equip it with a Weapon and Skill according to the same class of the *Adventurer*. Have in mind that, when carrying out expeditions in PVE mode, these items will be gradually corrupted.
You can also exchange one Weapon for another at any time, as long as you have these items in your inventory; but in case you want to remove an Skill initially associated with one of your Adventurers, you'll need to use a **Queen Stone** (cost = 1 $ABYSS), as mentioned before.
This gem is a relic associated with the elven queen of the ancient kingdom of Lenorien, and has magical properties whereby the Adventurer will be dissociated from his previous experience, his memory being replaced by a new ability, as according to the strategy.
Once you have acquired your items, you will be able to plan your team in order to achieve the highest AP – Attack Power and/or the best synergy between the components, as shown in Table 2.
**Table 2 – AP\* and chance of mint an item per rarity level**
*\* AP – Attack Power is the attack strength of an item and varies by its rarity level. A God-like have the highest AP possible for a class of Adventurer, Skill or Weapon.*
*\*\* Adventurers can be equipped with one Weapon each, in addition to between one and four Skills, according to their rarity level.*
*\****\****\* Chance of mint an item with a certain rarity level.*
Do you already have an assembled team and SIA’s license? Excellent. Now it's time to **set your route.**