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| | | | Aion's universe exists beyond the normal rationales of science. In the beginning, Atreia was a single world. Its inhabitants lived inside the planet, on the surface of a hollow in the shape of a torus, intersected vertically at its core by The Tower of Eternity.
After a cataclysmic event that occurred in the game's pre-history, the top and bottom halves of the world were disconnected and the Tower of Eternity was reduced to a shattered ruin. | | | | | The world of Aion resembles a globe, divided horizontally into two halves. The upper half is the world of the Asmodians, the lower half is the world of the Elyos. So basically the world-map of Aion is not on a horizontal plane, like a traditional fantasy world; instead it's vertical. . | | | | | | | | | | | | | With this in mind, some parts of both worlds can only be accessed from the air - such as floating castles, and islands in the sky. Because of this, all of the player characters can gain wings.
The area lying in between the two halves of Atreia is referred to as the Abyss. The Elyos's half is named Elysea, with the capital city of Sanctum, while the Asmodians' half is named Asmodae, with the capital city of Pandaemonium. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | | The upper half of Atreia, inhabited by the Asmodians. It receives substantially less sunlight than Elysea. The capital city of Asmodae is Pandaemonium. | | | top^ top^ | | | | Altgard is a place of extremes, from the Altgard Ice Lake, where the Archon Daevas defend the beautiful Altgard Fortress, which juts out of the ice like a bizarre skeleton, to the lush Moslan Forest, teeming with life. But throughout the region, a clear, brittle light is given by the strange phosphorescent plants that have evolved over the centuries since the Cataclysm.
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(Altgard: click for enlargement) | | | | In Asmodae it is very apparent just how much the modern Humans and Daevas live amongst the ruins of the ancient civilizations that once thrived there, and Altgard is no exception.
Impetusium, once an arena, and Urutemheim, built as a monument to heroes long-forgotten, stand as imposing memorials of what once was.
Meanwhile, the Black Claw Mau, a race of fierce cat-warriors, continue to encroach on Asmodian territory, defending their villages and their most sacred places with a terrifying vehemence.
The Altgard Fortress and Ice Lake are the first free-flight areas for Asmodian player-characters. | | | |
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| | | The lower half of Atreia, inhabited by the Elyos. It receives substantially more sunlight than Asmodae. The capital city of Elysea is Sanctum. | | | top^ | | | | Poeta, a lush island in Elysea, is home to farmers and villagers who attempt to live in peace beside the beautiful Cliona Lake. They cull their wood carefully from among the trees of Daminu Forest, in accordance with the ancient agreement they have with the Elim, the tree-people who live there.
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(Poeta: click for enlargement)
| | | | However, their peace has been disrupted of late by an influx of Krall, a violent species of sentient humanoids who have harried the Elyos for centuries on behalf of their draconic masters. Now, they are commanding their Kobold slaves to cut down trees and dig up huge swaths of ground in the Kabarah Strip Mine in search of the mysterious ore Odium.
The Kalion Mercenaries are out of their depth, but perhaps there is someone else who can help-a secretive hermit by the name of Pernos, who lives on Agaric Spore Road with only the strange mushroom people for company.
Akarios Plain is an area within the Poeta zone. It is the first area new Elyos player-characters step foot in. | | | | | top^ | | | | Sanctum, otherwise known as Elysium, is the capital city of Elysea, a metropolis which hovers at the center of the nation. Whilst the Elyos make up the majority of Sanctum’s population, it is also home to a number of other folk employed by the Elysean government and military; such as the Shugo, who occupy a large part of the financial districts. Sanctum is looked upon with envy and admiration by the humans and other non-Daeva who cannot claim to be a part of its thriving population. | 
(Sanctum: click for enlargement) | | | | In the beginning, Sanctum was merely a castle from which the benevolent Azariel ruled. It was only as the war against the Balaur and the Asmodians deepened that it developed into the city that it is today, a social and vibrant hub and not just a military outpost.
After the great catastrophe that split the world apart, the lands of Elysea were left in ruins. Frequent attacks from the bestial races meant that the rebuilding process was under constant threat. This forced the five Seraphim, including the Arch Seraphim, Azariel himself, to gather their magic and use it to lift Sanctum into the air and out of enemy reach. As commerce within the city grew active, Sanctum became the core for economic, military and administrative activities – but there was a problem. With the city floating in the air, and the population bursting at the seams, transportation in and out of Sanctum became overcrowded and difficult. This lead to the formation of suburbs forming on the ground beneath the floating metropolis. These days Sanctum is a prosperous complex - equally important as a social center for the Elyos now, as it was to them in its earliest form as a military base.
Sanctum is marked by key structures that epitomize its strength and prosperity. These include the Airship Port, an important centre for trade and transportation, and the ‘Nobelium’ - the largest structure in all of Elysea. Also found within the city is an arena for training Daeva, as well as markets, banks and other facilities necessary for any thriving city to possess. Whilst Sanctum is a social hub, not all areas of the city are open to wanderers. Although not much is known, it is said that there exists a holy district where only the most revered Daeva may enter. Such rumors can seldom be verified, but it is for certain that some of us will inevitably cross paths with Elysea’s secrets. | | | |
Screenshots
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| | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | top^ | | | | Verteron is a land of abundance. From the Tolbas Forest to Zumion Canyon to the Cantas Coast, it teems with many species of wildlife. All this is threatened by the contamination that has spread from the Altar of the Crimson Dragon, a place that the Krall still use to worship their Balaur overlords, creatures who haven't been seen in Atreia for many hundreds of years. |
(Verteron: click for enlargement)
| | | | Meanwhile, the Daevas are racking their brains for ways to deal with the Krall, who, when they aren't making raids on the Citadel, are continuing their suspicious mining operations and attacking the Holy Ground of Miraju. And just what can the Lepharists want with the wreck of that old ship? | | | | | top^
top^ | | | | The chaotic remains from the destruction of The Tower of Eternity are referred to as The Abyss. These large, floating land-masses are the highly contested battleground of Aion's three major factions: The Elyos, Asmodians, and Balaur.
If one dares to travel to the most dangerous and volatile place in the world, entry to The Abyss is gained through "spacial rifts" which appear randomly throughout Atreia. |
The Abyss | | | | Though the risk of death by the most powerful hostile enemies is great, it is offset by the most desirable rewards in the game. Flying is a necessity here, since many areas are isolated by large gaps of empty space. | | | | | | | | Gameplay
Throughout the Abyss, the Elyos, Asmodians, and Balaur can be found locked in bitter PvPvE battles. It is a hazardous and unpredictable area, with new challenges and opportunities for victory lurking in every shadow. While it holds many dangers, players that choose to brave the Abyss will be rewarded as the area is rife with valuable resources, legendary bosses to defeat and enemy encampments to raid and pillage.
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The Three Layers of the Abyss (click to enlarge) | | | | | | | | It is certain that many will be lured to the Abyss by the promise of its rich rewards. Highly desirable items and rare resources can be found deep in the Abyss, the draw of which may be too strong for even the most inexperienced of adventurers. The Abyss also offers the best place to gain experience, since the creatures that roam this wasted land provide a greater bonus to the advancement of player characters than those found in other areas.
This large area serves as the primary battlefield for the two opposing player races, Elyos and Asmodians. If one race becomes too powerful however, the Balaur, will intervene to negate that faction's advantage.
The Abyss is entirely a free-flight area, meaning you can fly anywhere. However, a flight timer is still a factor in the Abyss, and it is up to the players to determine their style of combat, whether it be in land or airborne.
Many encounters in The Abyss will grant Abyss Points
During the Third Closed Beta, the following information was released:
* To access the Abyss, you need to complete a mission that is automatically given at level 25.
* After completing the access mission for the Abyss, use the “Abyss Gates” located in:
1. Elyos at Verteron and Eltnen
2. Asmodian at Altgard and Morheim
3. Fortress Sky: Verteron, Altgard, Morheim
4. Eltnen: Fortress Underground (Under the elevator)
* The Abyss zone is composed of lower, middle and upper sections. Upon entering the Abyss, you will start from your Faction’s bind point in the lower level. These initial bind points are protected by an Aetheric Field that prevents the enemy Faction from passing through with a near-instant death attack.
* The Abyss zone includes monsters of levels 25 ~ 40, plus a total of 9 floating island groups and Fortresses.
* Around the Fortresses are 31 artifacts claimable by defeating their guarding Protectors.
* Each artifact has a particular effect that will help you in Fortress Battles and while adventuring in the Abyss. | | | | |
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