diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index d35d5f094a..b07fcfde69 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@ edition = "2018"
 
 [dependencies]
 specs = "0.14"
+shred = "0.7"
 vek = "0.9"
 dot_vox = "1.0"
diff --git a/common/src/figure/cell.rs b/common/src/figure/cell.rs
index c6e1d79cc4..2d445dcf3d 100644
--- a/common/src/figure/cell.rs
+++ b/common/src/figure/cell.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 // Library
 use vek::*;
 
+// Crate
+use crate::vol::Vox;
+
 /// A type representing a single voxel in a figure
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
 pub enum Cell {
@@ -9,21 +12,10 @@ pub enum Cell {
 }
 
 impl Cell {
-    pub fn empty() -> Self {
-        Cell::Empty
-    }
-
     pub fn new(rgb: Rgb<u8>) -> Self {
         Cell::Filled(rgb.into_array())
     }
 
-    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
-        match self {
-            Cell::Filled(_) => false,
-            Cell::Empty => true,
-        }
-    }
-
     pub fn get_color(&self) -> Option<Rgb<u8>> {
         match self {
             Cell::Filled(col) => Some(Rgb::from(*col)),
@@ -31,3 +23,16 @@ impl Cell {
         }
     }
 }
+
+impl Vox for Cell {
+    fn empty() -> Self {
+        Cell::Empty
+    }
+
+    fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            Cell::Filled(_) => false,
+            Cell::Empty => true,
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/src/figure/mod.rs b/common/src/figure/mod.rs
index cd39161bcf..1d59de63b1 100644
--- a/common/src/figure/mod.rs
+++ b/common/src/figure/mod.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use dot_vox::DotVoxData;
 
 // Crate
 use crate::{
-    vol::WriteVol,
+    vol::{Vox, WriteVol},
     volumes::dyna::Dyna,
 };
 
diff --git a/common/src/state.rs b/common/src/state.rs
index 084b701da6..71a7e741c2 100644
--- a/common/src/state.rs
+++ b/common/src/state.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 
 // External
 use specs::World as EcsWorld;
+use shred::Fetch;
 
 // Crate
 use crate::{
@@ -24,8 +25,6 @@ struct Tick(f64);
 /// things like entity components, terrain data, and global state like weather, time of day, etc.
 pub struct State {
     ecs_world: EcsWorld,
-    terrain_map: TerrainMap,
-    time: f64,
 }
 
 impl State {
@@ -36,14 +35,13 @@ impl State {
         // Register resources used by the ECS
         ecs_world.add_resource(TimeOfDay(0.0));
         ecs_world.add_resource(Tick(0.0));
+        ecs_world.add_resource(TerrainMap::new());
 
         // Register common components with the state
         comp::register_local_components(&mut ecs_world);
 
         Self {
             ecs_world,
-            terrain_map: TerrainMap::new(),
-            time: 0.0,
         }
     }
 
@@ -61,6 +59,11 @@ impl State {
         self.ecs_world.read_resource::<Tick>().0
     }
 
+    /// Get a reference to this state's terrain.
+    pub fn terrain<'a>(&'a self) -> Fetch<'a, TerrainMap> {
+        self.ecs_world.read_resource::<TerrainMap>()
+    }
+
     /// Execute a single tick, simulating the game state by the given duration.
     pub fn tick(&mut self, dt: Duration) {
         // Change the time accordingly
diff --git a/common/src/terrain/block.rs b/common/src/terrain/block.rs
index 0b45fdcf8a..18d8b1d760 100644
--- a/common/src/terrain/block.rs
+++ b/common/src/terrain/block.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,21 @@
+// Crate
+use crate::vol::Vox;
+
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct Block {
     kind: u8,
     color: [u8; 3],
 }
+
+impl Vox for Block {
+    fn empty() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            kind: 0,
+            color: [0; 3],
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.kind == 0
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/src/vol.rs b/common/src/vol.rs
index bb49a86423..5a3afdb314 100644
--- a/common/src/vol.rs
+++ b/common/src/vol.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 // Library
 use vek::*;
 
+/// A voxel
+pub trait Vox {
+    fn empty() -> Self;
+    fn is_empty(&self) -> bool;
+}
+
 /// A volume that contains voxel data.
 pub trait BaseVol {
-    type Vox;
+    type Vox: Vox;
     type Err;
 }
 
@@ -53,13 +59,26 @@ pub trait SizedVol: BaseVol {
     }
 }
 
-/// A volume that provided read access to its voxel data.
+/// A volume that provides read access to its voxel data.
 pub trait ReadVol: BaseVol {
     /// Get a reference to the voxel at the provided position in the volume.
     #[inline(always)]
     fn get(&self, pos: Vec3<i32>) -> Result<&Self::Vox, Self::Err>;
 }
 
+/// A volume that provides the ability to sample (i.e: clone a section of) its voxel data.
+pub trait SampleVol: BaseVol where Self::Vox: Clone {
+    type Sample: BaseVol + ReadVol;
+    /// Take a sample of the volume by cloning voxels within the provided range.
+    ///
+    /// Note that value and accessibility of voxels outside the bounds of the sample is
+    /// implementation-defined and should not be used.
+    ///
+    /// Note that the resultant volume has a coordinate space relative to the sample, not the
+    /// original volume.
+    fn sample(&self, range: Aabb<i32>) -> Result<Self::Sample, Self::Err>;
+}
+
 /// A volume that provides write access to its voxel data.
 pub trait WriteVol: BaseVol {
     /// Set the voxel at the provided position in the volume to the provided value.
diff --git a/common/src/volumes/chunk.rs b/common/src/volumes/chunk.rs
index fcd0912873..97fbdc7368 100644
--- a/common/src/volumes/chunk.rs
+++ b/common/src/volumes/chunk.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use vek::*;
 
 // Local
 use crate::vol::{
+    Vox,
     BaseVol,
     SizedVol,
     ReadVol,
@@ -21,13 +22,13 @@ pub enum ChunkErr {
 // V = Voxel
 // S = Size (replace when const generics are a thing)
 // M = Metadata
-pub struct Chunk<V, S: VolSize, M> {
+pub struct Chunk<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> {
     vox: Vec<V>,
     meta: M,
     phantom: PhantomData<S>,
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> Chunk<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> Chunk<V, S, M> {
     /// Used to transform a voxel position in the volume into its corresponding index in the voxel
     // array.
     #[inline(always)]
@@ -47,17 +48,17 @@ impl<V, S: VolSize, M> Chunk<V, S, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> BaseVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> BaseVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
     type Vox = V;
     type Err = ChunkErr;
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> SizedVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> SizedVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn get_size(&self) -> Vec3<u32> { S::SIZE }
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> ReadVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> ReadVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn get(&self, pos: Vec3<i32>) -> Result<&V, ChunkErr> {
         Self::idx_for(pos)
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ impl<V, S: VolSize, M> ReadVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> WriteVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> WriteVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn set(&mut self, pos: Vec3<i32>, vox: Self::Vox) -> Result<(), ChunkErr> {
         Self::idx_for(pos)
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ impl<V, S: VolSize, M> WriteVol for Chunk<V, S, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V: Clone, S: VolSize, M> Chunk<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox + Clone, S: VolSize, M> Chunk<V, S, M> {
     /// Create a new `Chunk` with the provided dimensions and all voxels filled with duplicates of
     /// the provided voxel.
     pub fn filled(vox: V, meta: M) -> Self {
diff --git a/common/src/volumes/dyna.rs b/common/src/volumes/dyna.rs
index f975b7e02a..ee51bcbb25 100644
--- a/common/src/volumes/dyna.rs
+++ b/common/src/volumes/dyna.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use vek::*;
 
 // Local
 use crate::vol::{
+    Vox,
     BaseVol,
     SizedVol,
     ReadVol,
@@ -17,13 +18,13 @@ pub enum DynaErr {
 // V = Voxel
 // S = Size (replace when const generics are a thing)
 // M = Metadata
-pub struct Dyna<V, M> {
+pub struct Dyna<V: Vox, M> {
     vox: Vec<V>,
     meta: M,
     sz: Vec3<u32>,
 }
 
-impl<V, M> Dyna<V, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, M> Dyna<V, M> {
     /// Used to transform a voxel position in the volume into its corresponding index in the voxel
     // array.
     #[inline(always)]
@@ -43,17 +44,17 @@ impl<V, M> Dyna<V, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V, M> BaseVol for Dyna<V, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, M> BaseVol for Dyna<V, M> {
     type Vox = V;
     type Err = DynaErr;
 }
 
-impl<V, M> SizedVol for Dyna<V, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, M> SizedVol for Dyna<V, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn get_size(&self) -> Vec3<u32> { self.sz }
 }
 
-impl<V, M> ReadVol for Dyna<V, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, M> ReadVol for Dyna<V, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn get(&self, pos: Vec3<i32>) -> Result<&V, DynaErr> {
         Self::idx_for(self.sz, pos)
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ impl<V, M> ReadVol for Dyna<V, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V, M> WriteVol for Dyna<V, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, M> WriteVol for Dyna<V, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn set(&mut self, pos: Vec3<i32>, vox: Self::Vox) -> Result<(), DynaErr> {
         Self::idx_for(self.sz, pos)
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ impl<V, M> WriteVol for Dyna<V, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V: Clone, M> Dyna<V, M> {
+impl<V: Vox + Clone, M> Dyna<V, M> {
     /// Create a new `Dyna` with the provided dimensions and all voxels filled with duplicates of
     /// the provided voxel.
     pub fn filled(sz: Vec3<u32>, vox: V, meta: M) -> Self {
diff --git a/common/src/volumes/vol_map.rs b/common/src/volumes/vol_map.rs
index c3c2ff0834..33674d4e33 100644
--- a/common/src/volumes/vol_map.rs
+++ b/common/src/volumes/vol_map.rs
@@ -7,27 +7,34 @@ use vek::*;
 // Crate
 use crate::{
     vol::{
+        Vox,
         BaseVol,
+        SizedVol,
         ReadVol,
+        SampleVol,
         WriteVol,
         VolSize,
     },
-    volumes::chunk::{Chunk, ChunkErr},
+    volumes::{
+        chunk::{Chunk, ChunkErr},
+        dyna::{Dyna, DynaErr},
+    },
 };
 
 pub enum VolMapErr {
     NoSuchChunk,
     ChunkErr(ChunkErr),
+    DynaErr(DynaErr),
 }
 
 // V = Voxel
 // S = Size (replace with a const when const generics is a thing)
 // M = Chunk metadata
-pub struct VolMap<V, S: VolSize, M> {
+pub struct VolMap<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> {
     chunks: HashMap<Vec3<i32>, Chunk<V, S, M>>,
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> VolMap<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> VolMap<V, S, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn chunk_key(pos: Vec3<i32>) -> Vec3<i32> {
         pos.map2(S::SIZE, |e, sz| e.div_euclid(sz as i32))
@@ -39,12 +46,12 @@ impl<V, S: VolSize, M> VolMap<V, S, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> BaseVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> BaseVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
     type Vox = V;
     type Err = VolMapErr;
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> ReadVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> ReadVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn get(&self, pos: Vec3<i32>) -> Result<&V, VolMapErr> {
         let ck = Self::chunk_key(pos);
@@ -57,7 +64,29 @@ impl<V, S: VolSize, M> ReadVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> WriteVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox + Clone, S: VolSize, M> SampleVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
+    type Sample = Dyna<V, ()>;
+
+    /// Take a sample of the terrain by cloning the voxels within the provided range.
+    ///
+    /// Note that the resultant volume does not carry forward metadata from the original chunks.
+    fn sample(&self, range: Aabb<i32>) -> Result<Self::Sample, VolMapErr> {
+        let mut sample = Dyna::filled(
+            range.size().map(|e| e as u32).into(),
+            V::empty(),
+            (),
+        );
+
+        for pos in sample.iter_positions() {
+            sample.set(pos, self.get(range.min + pos)?.clone())
+                .map_err(|err| VolMapErr::DynaErr(err))?;
+        }
+
+        Ok(sample)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> WriteVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
     #[inline(always)]
     fn set(&mut self, pos: Vec3<i32>, vox: V) -> Result<(), VolMapErr> {
         let ck = Self::chunk_key(pos);
@@ -70,7 +99,7 @@ impl<V, S: VolSize, M> WriteVol for VolMap<V, S, M> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<V, S: VolSize, M> VolMap<V, S, M> {
+impl<V: Vox, S: VolSize, M> VolMap<V, S, M> {
     pub fn new() -> Self {
         Self {
             chunks: HashMap::new(),
diff --git a/voxygen/src/anim/character/mod.rs b/voxygen/src/anim/character/mod.rs
index 0e63aecf31..367cdf32ed 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/anim/character/mod.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/anim/character/mod.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ pub struct CharacterSkeleton {
     head: Bone,
     chest: Bone,
     belt: Bone,
-    leggings: Bone,
+    shorts: Bone,
     l_hand: Bone,
     r_hand: Bone,
     l_foot: Bone,
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ impl CharacterSkeleton {
             head: Bone::default(),
             chest: Bone::default(),
             belt: Bone::default(),
-            leggings: Bone::default(),
+            shorts: Bone::default(),
             l_hand: Bone::default(),
             r_hand: Bone::default(),
             l_foot: Bone::default(),
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ impl Skeleton for CharacterSkeleton {
             FigureBoneData::new(self.head.compute_base_matrix()),
             FigureBoneData::new(chest_mat),
             FigureBoneData::new(self.belt.compute_base_matrix()),
-            FigureBoneData::new(self.leggings.compute_base_matrix()),
+            FigureBoneData::new(self.shorts.compute_base_matrix()),
             FigureBoneData::new(self.l_hand.compute_base_matrix()),
             FigureBoneData::new(self.r_hand.compute_base_matrix()),
             FigureBoneData::new(self.l_foot.compute_base_matrix()),
diff --git a/voxygen/src/anim/character/run.rs b/voxygen/src/anim/character/run.rs
index 472ae57923..f1bedf8c07 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/anim/character/run.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/anim/character/run.rs
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ impl Animation for RunAnimation {
         skeleton.belt.offset = Vec3::unit_z() * 7.0;
         skeleton.belt.ori = Quaternion::rotation_z(wave * 0.3);
 
-        skeleton.leggings.offset = Vec3::unit_z() * 4.0;
-        skeleton.leggings.ori = Quaternion::rotation_z(wave * 0.3);
+        skeleton.shorts.offset = Vec3::unit_z() * 4.0;
+        skeleton.shorts.ori = Quaternion::rotation_z(wave * 0.3);
 
         skeleton.l_hand.offset = Vec3::new(-8.0, wave * 5.0, 9.0);
         skeleton.r_hand.offset = Vec3::new(8.0, -wave * 5.0, 9.0);
diff --git a/voxygen/src/mesh/segment.rs b/voxygen/src/mesh/segment.rs
index 4bb540afb5..0980528190 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/mesh/segment.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/mesh/segment.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use vek::*;
 
 // Project
 use common::vol::{
+    Vox,
     SizedVol,
     ReadVol,
 };