11. The Scar
Far, far to the east of Elyria’s capital lies a gaping wound in the land. This chasm is known as The Scar; a deep gash that will not stop growing, threatening to swallow Elyria and all of Imperia after it. Suspended within it and bound by twelve chains lay thirteen great towers; twelve form a circle around the thirteenth, which rises above the others like the point of a sword.
The towers were first built at the end of the War of Unification five hundred years before, at the beginning of the Unified Era. They were later reoccupied and used by the kingdom of Elyria to expand its resources and military might.
It was not until the great Cataclysm at the end of the last war fifty years ago that The Scar opened up. Nobody knows what caused the Cataclysm; all they do know is that it spawned The Scar, and it has been widening ever since.
12. The Towers and the Masters
Yesterday we learned about the Scar, and the history of the Thirteen Towers. Today, we learn more about the towers as they appear in-game, and the creatures lurking at their tops.
Each of the Thirteen Towers has its own theme. Each tower is based on one of the six elements of Aios: Wood, Earth, Water, Fire, Metal and Light. The followers of Aios believe that each of these elements have both a light (male) and a dark (female) side, and so two towers for each element were built to reflect this. The thirteenth remains a mystery.
Interestingly, the first five elements appear to be based on the real-life Wu Xing, or the five elements in Chinese lore.
At the top of each tower sits a door, behind which lurks a Master. It is these Masters whose flesh Aeron must rip out to feed to Elena. Binding this door in each tower is a single chain, or, in later towers, multiple chains. Each of these chains must be destroyed before Aeron can fight the Master contained within.
13. Treetop Tower
The first tower is the Treetop Tower, based on the element of Wood and containing one chain. It was once used by the Elyrian army to grow their food. As the people of Elyria follow The Way of Aios and refuse to eat any form of meat, this was vital to their country’s survival.
14. Sheerdrop Spire
The Sheerdrop Spire is the second tower Aeron encounters, and is based on the element of Earth. There are two chains which must be destroyed to break the seal on the Master’s door. This tower was used to mine for ore, and scientists studied the rocks found in here due to their unusual properties.
15. Wellspring Steeple
The Wellspring Steeple is the third tower in Aeron’s journey, with two chains contained within to be broken. It is based on the element of water, and as such, the tower’s main puzzle involves the turning of a water wheel. It was this water wheel that was the reason the Elyrian army desired this tower; they had hoped to use it as a water source.
It is in this tower that Aeron will pick up his second weapon, the low power but very fast Twinblades; more on them in twelve tidbits time.
16. Crimson Keep
The Crimson Keep is the fourth tower that Aeron must conquer, and is full of flames. There are two chains that must be found and destroyed while avoiding the fiery traps contained within.
Notably, this and the other flame-filled tower are the only ones of the thirteen to employ the use of dark rooms; these are pitch black upon entry, and must be lit up using lanterns if Aeron is to find his way.
17. Ironclad Turret
The Ironclad Turret is the fifth tower to be scaled the Aeron and the first to feature the element of metal. Three chains seal the Master at its top. This tower was once used by the Elyrian Army to create the weapons they needed for war, and it contains lifts which Aeron can use to help him climb the tower.
On the second floor of the turret he will find the Military Scythe, which we will discuss in eleven tidbits time.
18. Arcadian Tower
The Arcadian Tower is the sixth tower in the game, and contains three chains. It is based on the element of wood, and was used by the Elyrian army to grow medicinal plants. The corridor leading to the Master is littered with plants which have a tendency to explode if Aeron gets too close. There are also many vines found throughout the tower that Aeron must burn if he is to proceed.
19. Rockshard Rampart
The Rockshard Rampart is the seventh tower in Pandora’s Tower and is based on the element of earth. There are three chains found within it, which Aeron must destroy. It is filled with all sorts of crystals and minerals, and the Elyrian army once mined it for these resources.
20. Torrent Peak
The eighth tower listed and the second to be based on water, Torrent Peak contains three chains for Aeron to break. Just like the Wellspring Steeple, it features a giant waterwheel as its main feature; unlike the Wellspring Steeple, this waterwheel only moves when Aeron latches on to it and pulls it. This gives him much more control over the placement of the grappling points fixed into the side of the wheel.
